ok guys here is my problem i am strictly a bowhunter/bird hunter i know nothing about rifles really. i am wanting to do some preditor hunting mostly for coyotes and bobcats and i am wondering what caliber/gun combination would be a good choice. so if any of you could help me out that would be awesome. also if you have any links or anything like that to sites that might help me out that would be greatly appritiated
My favorite is the 22-250, but I don' t hunt for pelts so I don' t worry about damage to the hides. The .223 is also an excellent round that would be a little easier on hides. Of course a lot depends upon bullet selection.
There are a number of rounds that will work, 222, 223, 22-250, 220 swift, .243, .308, etc., and of course many of the new short rounds. You sure don' t need a magnum of any kind. In a varmint gun I look for an accurate rifle that won' t beat me to death recoil wise. Some folks are big on the AR-15 type rifles, but I prefer a nice bolt action. I normally select heavy barrels for accuracy and steady hold, but an accurate sporter weight rifle will be easier to carry and manuver.
Check out www.predatormasters.com for predator hunting info.
Go with the .223 ammo is cheap and easy to get. Plenty of power for coyotes and usually does not leave an exit hole if you use an explosive bullet.
Don' t buy the heavy barrel version for coyote hunting. It nas no benefit for coyote hunting and only adds weight.
if the gun wants to be strictly a varmint rifle, a .223 is a very fine cartridge. A .22-250 will fill the bill as well. If it wants to occasionally take a deer, the .243 is ideal for both tasks.
For a good all around coyote killer it is hard to beat the .223.
But their are so many other choices,218 bee,223 Wsm,22-250,.222,220 swift,243 win,.243 WSM,6mm,25-06 rem on and on.
What you need to decide is this going to be a cross-over gun,ie deer and antelope.
If this is the case I would go 25-06,good in the wind and deadly on coy-cogs and deer size game.
If not I would go with the .223,ammos cheap,acurate and deadly out to 350-400 yds.
And if you can' t decide you can be like me and own a .223,22-250,.243,6mm and 25-06,why?I geuss more the merry.
Any rifle in these calibers with a good 4-16 scope and a good rabbit call and you are in luck.BBJ
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As far as gun selection check out the varmint guns on www.savagearms.com they make some accurate rifles. If you want to shoot alot and not spend alot on ammo the .223 is the round for you. There are tons of loadings for it and it kills varmints and yotes dead. If you want to deer hunt with the same rifle id look into the 243 winchester (not the wssm, sense its not even released yet).
ok thanks guys i have had 243s before and i have never been so impressed with them. im not worried about hunting deer with this gun. i am going to want a long range gun because there are lots of farm lands and such out here were i could have some long shots.
For long range gunning, find something in the 22-250 or 200 Swift variety. I have a 22-250 Ruger M77 with a Nikon Buckmasters 4-14 on it, and its hard to beat for a varmint rig. Of course, I like the 12 gauge or the 45/70 for varmints too. [>:]
varmint preditor rifle/caliber help.
